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olsen beyond al qaeda's core leadership in pakistan and the al qaeda affiliates in yemen which terrorist group in your view poses the greatest threat to the country? >> i would say that beyond the al qaeda leadership in pakistan, its presence in yemen, probably the next most significant terrorist threat may emanate from the al qaeda presence in somalia. in terms of the willingness and apparent ability or at least the intent to strike outside of that particular country. we know that country, that group has successfully mounted an attack in uganda, and the apparent ability of the regional affiliates such as that to outside of the borders that country think poses a significant threat. but the threat goes beyond even just al qaeda of course and its affiliates. to two other groups such as hezbollah. so i think again, i have to say that i am not in a position at nctc now so i approach these types of questions with some humility and some deference to the professionals who are looking at these questions on a daily basis. >> one last question if i might. earlier this year undersecretary colin fro
olsen beyond al qaeda's core leadership in pakistan and the al qaeda affiliates in yemen which terrorist group in your view poses the greatest threat to the country? >> i would say that beyond the al qaeda leadership in pakistan, its presence in yemen, probably the next most significant terrorist threat may emanate from the al qaeda presence in somalia. in terms of the willingness and apparent ability or at least the intent to strike outside of that particular country. we know that...
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i also wanted to ask the role of pakistan. pakistan is a key regional actor in central asia. right now our relationship with pakistan is complicated. pakistan is obviously an important player in terms of regional stability in central asia. can you describe the -- how the pressler amendment has affected our relationship with pakistan? and how do you feel the united states needs to interact currently with pakistan and in the future? how do you feel we should use the aid as a weapon of influence based on the current relationship that we have now with pakistan? >> yeah, thank you, senator. i think pakistan is an enormously important country in the central command area of operations. in fact, when i was the acting commander, i considered it to be among probably the top one or two countries to be addressed. and we've had as you described it yourself, a very complex relationship with them. i think it's one we need to stick with. and to your point about the pressler amendment. that was a period in our history where we made a determination that we had such stark differences with pakis
i also wanted to ask the role of pakistan. pakistan is a key regional actor in central asia. right now our relationship with pakistan is complicated. pakistan is obviously an important player in terms of regional stability in central asia. can you describe the -- how the pressler amendment has affected our relationship with pakistan? and how do you feel the united states needs to interact currently with pakistan and in the future? how do you feel we should use the aid as a weapon of influence...
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i also wanted to ask the role of pakistan. pakistan is a key regional actor in central asia. right now our relationship with pakistan is complicated. pakistan is obviously an important player in terms of regional stability in central asia. can you describe the -- how the pressler amendment has affected our relationship with pakistan? and how do you feel the united states needs to interact currently with pakistan and in the future? how do you feel we should use the aid as a weapon of influence based on the current relationship that we have now with pakistan? >> yeah, thank you, senator. i think pakistan is an enormously important country in the central command area of operations. in fact, when i was the acting commander, i considered it to be among probably the top one or two countries to be addressed. and we've had as you described it yourself, a very complex relationship with them. i think it's one we need to stick with. and to your point about the pressler amendment. that was a period in our history where we made a determination that we had such stark differences with pakis
i also wanted to ask the role of pakistan. pakistan is a key regional actor in central asia. right now our relationship with pakistan is complicated. pakistan is obviously an important player in terms of regional stability in central asia. can you describe the -- how the pressler amendment has affected our relationship with pakistan? and how do you feel the united states needs to interact currently with pakistan and in the future? how do you feel we should use the aid as a weapon of influence...
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despite counterterrorism pressure against pakistan including the successful strike against osama bin laden the growth remains dangerous and vengeful. at the same time the threat from al qaeda's affiliate's and adherents around the world has increased and presents particular challenges. i am especially concerned about the threat to the united states homeland from al qaeda in the air arabian peninsula, aqap as we cut, as well as terrorist safe havens in somalia and elsewhere. this means, at least to me, that this is a crucial time for our counterterrorism establishment to be at full strength and not to be without the leader. nctc is a linchpin of this establishment. so i treat least the president has moved quickly to nominate mr. olsen, an individual serving in a senior intelligence community position today to take the helm of this organization. let me take just a moment to read the first paragraph from a letter of support from mr. olsen's nomination written by general keith alexander, that richter of the national security agency. this is a quote. "i am writing to wholeheartedly endors
despite counterterrorism pressure against pakistan including the successful strike against osama bin laden the growth remains dangerous and vengeful. at the same time the threat from al qaeda's affiliate's and adherents around the world has increased and presents particular challenges. i am especially concerned about the threat to the united states homeland from al qaeda in the air arabian peninsula, aqap as we cut, as well as terrorist safe havens in somalia and elsewhere. this means, at least...
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pakistan's suffering religious minority community. members of the jewish faith continue to express discrimination and persecution throughout the region. the special envoy for anti-semitism, anna rosenthal, has noted that the holocaust glorification is, quote, especially virulent in the middle east media. if the international community and our government fails to speak out, the prospects for religious pluralism and tolerance in the region are bleak, i urge my colleagues' support for this bill. and again thank the leadership on both sides for making this legislation a priority. i'm hopeful that this bill will overwhelmingly pass the house and deaccepted a clear message to both the persecutors and persecuted that the united states of america stands with those who most basic freedom the right to worship according to the dictates of conscious is under assault. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman from new jersey reserve? reserve. the gentleman from california is recognized. mr. berman:thank you v
pakistan's suffering religious minority community. members of the jewish faith continue to express discrimination and persecution throughout the region. the special envoy for anti-semitism, anna rosenthal, has noted that the holocaust glorification is, quote, especially virulent in the middle east media. if the international community and our government fails to speak out, the prospects for religious pluralism and tolerance in the region are bleak, i urge my colleagues' support for this bill....
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of the other high-level officials within al qaeda and obviously this drone campaign been ongoing in pakistan and some cases yemen, we've taken out something like 1200 fighters from al qaeda including senior leaders. jon: right. >> this is all good news. but again the ideology of radical islam lives on and so do these affiliate groups. that is the challenge ahead of us. jon: if you take out those leaders, and we have been very successful in doing that, if you take out people who have experience going back to the russian-afghan war, take out the people who know how to motivate and organization and maybe build a bomb be, pretty soon you're left with bunch of 18, 20-year-old kids who may have the desire but don't necessarily have the knowledge to continue terrorism campaign? >> well, you know i think you could make that argument but you could also argue you have a number of people who gained experience in afghanistan. people who have gained experience and by the way, fighting in this more recent war, not in the war in the 1980s against the soviets. but rather fighting against the united states a
of the other high-level officials within al qaeda and obviously this drone campaign been ongoing in pakistan and some cases yemen, we've taken out something like 1200 fighters from al qaeda including senior leaders. jon: right. >> this is all good news. but again the ideology of radical islam lives on and so do these affiliate groups. that is the challenge ahead of us. jon: if you take out those leaders, and we have been very successful in doing that, if you take out people who have...